A Palms DUI charge can have long-lasting effects. Even if you try to ignore a DUI charge, this legal issue will not disappear on its own. However, if you have an experienced Palms DUI lawyer at your side, you are well-equipped to contest a DUI charge.
At Simmrin Law Group, we have comprehensive experience with DUI cases. Reach out to our Palms DUI attorney. From here, we can start building a defense to help you get your DUI charge reduced or dismissed.
How a DUI Is Treated in Palms
In California, it is illegal for people over the age of 21 to operate a vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08% or higher. People under the age of 21 cannot legally operate a vehicle if they have a BAC of 0.01% or higher. In either scenario, the penalties associated with driving while intoxicated can be severe.
The penalties for a DUI in California can include a driver’s license suspension, fines, and jail time. If you are charged with a DUI for the first time, the penalty may be less severe than if you were charged with one a second or third time. Regardless of how many DUI charges a person gets, it is important to do everything possible to contest them.
A DUI lawyer in Palms understands California’s legal system. The attorney can learn about your DUI charge and develop a custom legal strategy to dispute it. That way, you are positioned to avoid a DUI conviction.
What to Do If You Are Arrested for a DUI in Palms
If a police officer tries to arrest you for a DUI, you may be asked to complete a sobriety test. If you refuse this test, you can have your driver’s license suspended. Or, if you undergo a breathalyzer for a sobriety test, you may be able to claim a false-positive result.
Following a DUI arrest in Palms, seek out an attorney. You can hire a DUI attorney in Palms who reviews your case in detail. Next, your lawyer can help you figure out the best way to dispute your DUI charge.
There may be instances in which your attorney encourages you to move forward with contesting your DUI charge to the fullest extent. Comparatively, your lawyer may encourage you to offer a settlement. In this scenario, your lawyer can answer any questions you have about settlements so you can make an informed decision about whether to offer one.
What to Expect if You Propose a Settlement for a DUI Charge in Palms
It is paramount to put together a settlement offer that accounts for both you and the prosecution. A settlement will require you to accept a lesser penalty than the one you initially received. Yet, you may still receive a penalty relating to your DUI charge.
Your lawyer will consider your case and help you craft a settlement offer that aligns with the best interests of all of the parties involved in your case. When your offer is ready, your attorney can present it to a prosecutor. At this point, the prosecutor must decide whether to accept, decline, or reject your offer.
A prosecutor will take as much time as needed to make a decision about your settlement offer. If the prosecutor finds your offer hits the market, it may get approved, and you can resolve your case. On the other hand, the prosecutor may reject your offer, and you may need to move forward with a trial.
Ways to Contest a DUI Charge in Palms
There is no one-size-fits-all legal defense against a DUI charge in Palms. Your attorney may recommend any of the following options to contest your DUI charge in court:
A Sobriety Test Is Inaccurate
Dizziness, nausea, and other factors can contribute to poor performance during a field sobriety test. Meanwhile, a defective breathalyzer or other factors can lead to inaccurate breath test results. Your lawyer can argue that your sobriety test results are flawed, to the point where it may lead to your DUI charge being dismissed.
Blood Was Not Drawn in a Safe and Effective Manner
You may be asked to provide a blood sample that can be used to test your BAC. If a police officer does not follow safe procedures to draw blood from you or injures you when doing so, this individual can be held accountable. Your lawyer can argue that the police officer was negligent when collecting a blood sample, which may have led to invalid blood test results.
You Were Not Driving While Intoxicated
A person cannot be charged with a DUI if they were a passenger in a car. There can be instances in which a person is asleep in the driver’s seat of a car but not actually driving the vehicle when they are charged with a DUI. In these scenarios, your lawyer can argue that you were not driving while intoxicated.
There Was No Reasonable Cause for a Police Officer to Pull You Over
A police officer can pull over a vehicle if this individual has reasonable suspicion to do so. Some police officers claim they are pulling a driver over due to a “hunch.” If this happens to you, your attorney may be able to argue that a police officer had no reason to pull you over in the first place.
Your lawyer will do whatever it takes to help you settle your DUI case in Palms. By hiring an attorney as soon as you receive your DUI charge, you can take immediate steps to dispute it. With help from your attorney, you can identify the best way to resolve your DUI charge so it will not impact you moving forward.
Get in Touch with a DUI Lawyer in Palms Today
Simmrin Law Group is a trusted choice for those who want to hire a DUI attorney in Palms. We can take a look at your DUI charge and help you build a legal strategy to contest it right away. To learn more or request a free case evaluation, please contact us today.